Dremel/rotary tool - quality alternative?

I'm in the market for a new dremel type rotary tool. I'd like to buy a quality tool, powerful, well balanced, maybe even rigid. What's your favorite one? Made in the U.S. would be great, but anything not Chinese would be good. German, Japanese, etc. I've seen the ones that are a large motor you hang with a flexible shaft, but I'd prefer a hand held unit.

These are often referred to as die grinders/polishers.
Tom

Biax makes nice ones.

My next upgrade is to a Foredom... I started with old Dremels, then a flex shaft off a sander/scrollsaw, then Dremels with flex shafts.

I find myself using Dremel with a flex shaft, can't recall the last time I used one just by itself, usually use a pneumatic die grinder at that point.

Definitely check out the Foredom tools. Lot's of options including hp and handpieces for a variety of different jobs. I have used one of the basic ones for about 35 years now and couldn't be without it.

Anything that isn't Dremel is better than Dremel.

I'm not a big fan of Foredoms, but they work fine. They're a little clunky.

This is what I use. Love it. Super fast bit change out.
http://www.gesswein.com/p-6791-powerhand-z-15x-high-torque-handpiece.aspx

This is the power unit with Ultrasonic tool. You can get it without ultrasonic feature, but its f'ing sweet.
ULTRAMAX

I have several Dremels that I almost never use. Sometimes it is handy to use one on a part spinning in a lathe. But they are so sloppy in the bearings that I hate to use them.

I have a bunch of Foredom flex shaft tools and many different handpieces. They are excellent for most work. I always use them for slow speed and heavy carving of metal. They are too slow for using tiny carbide or diamond burs.

But for high speed work with small shank tools, nothing beats a micromotor. A couple years ago I needed to do a job with tiny dental burs turning at 50,000 RPM. I bought my "thousand dollar Dremel" for that job. I think the best one is the Saeyang (Korea) brushless 50,000 RPM Marathon Handy 700. The handpiece can take collets up to 1/8 inch, though the standard collet is 3/32. The same power supply can also run the brush-type 35,000 RPM handpieces. The control is variable speed, reversing and hand or foot operated. Quality is fantastic. Foredom sells these units with their own name on them for about $1000. I found Lion's Dental sells the Marathon brand for $599.

Dental Laboratory Micro Motors

If you want a lower cost option, get the brush-type 35,000 RPM Marathon 3. This model only takes long 3/32 inch shank tools. I bought one on eBay from a Chinese seller for a song, cheaper than Lion's. Here is an example, but there are several sellers with this and similar units.

Dental Lab MARATHON Handpiece 35K r/m+Micromotor N3 lab equipment 35,000 | eBay

There are some very good deals on 3/32 inch shank carbide and diamond burs on eBay, direct from Chinese sellers. I have been happy with the ones I bought.

Larry

I have the small Marathon, great for delicate work.
Very smooth and quiet .

Thanks for the suggestions. The Foredom units do look good and powerful and the other units look really nice. I have a die grinder but was looking for something more of the classic dremel tool shape for portability. I'm also avoiding pneumatics and flex shafts, because having a stiff air hose or flex shaft connected to the back of the tool can be annoying.

I don't know if I'm ready to drop a grand on something! A friend of mine recently got a Proxxon like this and it's definitely a step up from Dremel, but still not as powerful as I'd like. Also, the spindle/collet setup isn't that rigid. When I'm grinding away with a burr, I can see it flexing and sometimes the bit will walk out of the collet despite thorough tightening.

I think I may have to go with a flex shaft tool like the Foredoms if I want more power.

high speed handpiece

I have a foredom set up that I love.
For most stuff the normal handpiece works well, but with carbide burrs or for polishing I swap in this geared high speed unit:
Foredom handpieces the jewelry making standard plus Foredom hanging motors, Foredom jewelers kits and jewelry making tools.
(I am not endorsing that seller, but it is too hard to find the actual unit right now)

When you're ready to drop a grand, drop it on Osada EXL-M40 dental lab handpiece. It's excellent: very powerful and precise. I use it professionally.

I also have Escort III Dental Micro Motor in my home shop. It's a way better than Dremel and other similar toys (completely different class of tools), but not quite as powerful as Osada. I bought a new one on eBay. It was very reasonably priced (something like $160, IIRC). So far it was sufficient for my HSM needs.

Dumore die grinders are nice units.

Dumore Corporation -



Rex

bjorn toulouse said:

Dumore die grinders are nice units.

Dumore Corporation -



Rex

Click to expand...

As are Dumore flexible shaft tools, if that works for you.

jkopel said:

I have a foredom set up that I love.
For most stuff the normal handpiece works well, but with carbide burrs or for polishing I swap in this geared high speed unit:
Foredom handpieces the jewelry making standard plus Foredom hanging motors, Foredom jewelers kits and jewelry making tools.
(I am not endorsing that seller, but it is too hard to find the actual unit right now)

Click to expand...

I have two of the speed-increasing Foredom handpieces. I have not used them since I got my Marathon micromotor.

Larry

Dremels can be made to work considerably better by adding filler around the badly fitted areas the bearings seat in. Maybe a little Bondo carefully applied would help. You just need to tighten up the bearing seatings in the plastic housings.

No one's mentioned air powered pencil grinders. Are they no good? Are there
any decent brands.

robmc said:

No one's mentioned air powered pencil grinders. Are they no good? Are there
any decent brands.

Click to expand...

Dentists use them all the time. I have a few, but I don't use them because compressed air is noisy and expensive and I don't like having an air hose draped across the shop and hooked up to my handpiece. Micromotors are much better in a shop like mine.

Larry

robmc said:

No one's mentioned air powered pencil grinders. Are they no good? Are there any decent brands.

Click to expand...

After using a Dremel for years I bought a small, precision Dotco air grinder (100,000 RPM, 1/8" Ø max. collet size -- see image) in the early 80's and was so impressed that, when they went on sale a few months later I bought a spare. The spare is still NIB because the original still works fine! Although the OP indicated they were avoiding pneumatics because of the stiff air hose, the air hose on this model is small, quite flexible, and very durable.

-jmcvo

I'm surprised no one is mentioning NSK Nakanishi Micro Grinders. My father has a set up at his home shop. Really outstanding piece of tool. This thing runs so smooth you don't even feel it turning nor see the rotary burr or stone turn. No vibration whatsoever. I just checked out the Marathons on ebay, and I think you can't beat that price. Some are even under $100 for a full setup, motor, foot pedal and hand piece with it's wrench. Although I had my eye on my dads Nakanishi spindle/hand piece, I don't think he will part with it nor will I buy it at that price $$$. If I was to use it for professional purpose then definitely, but it's going to be mostly for deburring and micro polishing or hobby use at my machine shop in the off hours. I just placed an order "Buy it Now" for one of those Marathons. It is free shipping but I would rather pay and get it earlier than Jan 27th. Cmon China is only on the other side of the world not Mars or further. Anyway, you guys brought up a subject that made me spend more money for a tool. Had I not gotten the monthly newsletter from PM and not seen this post in it and read it, I woulda never known about Marathon nor purchased one. My three dremmels did the job for years and I sorta got the hang of it. I got most of the attachments. You guys are right, the spindles suck in the bearings dept. I kid you not one of my oldest dremels which is still my favorite one because of it's tightness on the spindle with the least runout was a gift for me that my father bought back in 1993. Yes it still is in active service. I changed the spindle graphite's 3 times already and it's still kicking. I can't wait for the marathon . And maybe one day my dad will upgrade his Nakanishi NSK setup and give that one to me. But wait, that is the best there is, how will he upgrade?
Cheers you all. Thanks for making me buy more tools.

Pro grade mold and die polishing equipment is major bucks. How much do you want to spend? There';s a die polisher on the market that's close to a Dremel in size and function but last I heard it cost just under $1000. This is truely a high class tool and judging by its features well worth the price for someone in the mold and die finishing game. Grade 9 bearings, 80K RPM, a zillion attachable gizmos etc but it's not suited for most home shop applications. There are many outfits serving this market and some of the best are foreign made.

Maybe Foredom is the next logical step; cable drive or not there's been some marvelous work accomplished with a Foredom. I know a sculptor that work in bronze to fine detail and he has quite a stable of Foredom equipment. I understand you can get several grades of handpieces.

OTH you can gold plate a die grinder to better bearings, collet etc.

Ever think of dental equipment?